A young boy wearing a blue tracksuit stands on a paved path in a sunny outdoor area. Behind him is a rustic garden with small bushes, a well, and various buckets and containers near a wall. In the background, there are banana trees and other lush greenery.

Msamaria Children's Centre

Moshi, Tanzania

January 2026

At the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Moshi, Tanzania, the Msamaria Children’s Centre provides support to children who have previously lived on the streets or come from vulnerable family situations.

During my time there, I interviewed staff members and documented daily life inside the centre. Around 75 children live at Msamaria. Some attend local boarding schools, while others stay at the centre full-time.

Children playing and walking on a pathway outside a school in a sunny area with trees and a brick wall.
Two children in matching striped tracksuits playing on a dirt playground; one child is walking while the other is riding a small balancing scooter. Behind them is a stage with colorful decorations, parked cars, a small building, and lush greenery with tall trees.

Life at the centre follows a steady rhythm — school in the morning, shared meals, daily chores, and scheduled free time.

The centre provides stability, structure, and access to education. In the kitchen, music plays while preparing meals together. In the classrooms, children sit at wooden desks learning letters and numbers. Outside, in the courtyard, they run, play, and move freely in a safe environment.

A woman wearing a striped red and white shirt and a gray baseball cap is holding a cabbage in a kitchen with tiled walls and counter.
A smiling boy standing outside a colorful classroom building, holding a small object in one hand and making a peace sign with the other.
A small white building with a green roof, labeled 'Girls Dormitory', surrounded by laundry hanging on Clotheslines and trees in the background.
A small room with bunk beds, one painted yellow and the other one blue. The walls are decorated with blue paint and white drawings, with the phrase "Dream Big Work Hard" written on the wall. A wardrobe is placed between the beds, and there's a window with bars letting in light.

The staff described their work as long-term and personal. Beyond providing shelter, they aim to guide each child toward independence and, whenever possible, reunite them with their families.

Two young children wearing matching navy blue Adidas track suits sitting outside; one child on a small toy car and the other leaning against a wall
A young boy standing at the doorway inside a room, with sunlight illuminating the area outside, revealing some plants and a dirt ground.
Young boy holding a small toy rocket in a room with a wooden bench, shoes on the floor, and a window with metal bars.

All donations are welcome and greatly needed.

Support the centre here:
www.msamariakids.org/donation/

A man with tattoos on his arms is holding hands with a young child in an outdoor setting. Several children and adults are visible in the background, with some standing and others walking on a dirt ground. The scene appears to be in a rural or semi-ur
Two young boys lying on a bed indoors, one with a big smile and looking up, the other with a thoughtful expression and finger on lips, wearing a Spider-Man shirt.